Hospital Environment

Abstract

Workers in jobs where there are extremes of temperature experience a great deal of discomfort and stress. Plenty of evidence exists to show that accidents and mistakes increase rapidly with temperature rises. Most people are reasonably comfortable over the temperature range 16–24°C. But reactions to temperature very much depend on what people are doing at the time. For instance, heavy physical work is better done at low temperatures because the body generates heat whereas office work, involving little physical effort, needs higher temperatures.